Jamaica and Liberia recently formalised the establishment of diplomatic relations during a signing ceremony at the United Nations headquarters on the margins of the High-Level Week segment of the 77th General Assembly, the foreign ministry announced.

The joint communiqué was signed on behalf of Jamaica by Foreign Minister Senator Kamina Johnson Smith and her Liberian counterpart Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr.

According to the announcement, “the establishment of diplomatic relations between Jamaica and Liberia is historic, and is in line with the foreign policy objective of the Government of Jamaica to deepen engagement with the African continent, and to identify, together with opportunities for cultural, technical and people-to-people exchanges, specific opportunities for enhancing trade and investment”.

“I am so pleased that the day has come when we finally formalise diplomatic relations with Africa’s first republic. Significant informal connections already exist, but now the possibilities for cooperation between our two countries are endless,” Minister Johnson Smith said.

“We look forward to strengthening our historic bonds as we work together at the bilateral and multilateral levels to attain sustainable development,” she added.

Both ministers expressed their pride and honour in recognising that the first lady of Liberia, Ambassador Clar Marie Weah, is Jamaican. They warmly exchanged views regarding the positive platform for cooperation, already signalled by this highest level presence and engagement.

The two ministers also asserted their intent “to ensure that these newly established channels will be rapidly operationalised through the relevant diplomatic channels”.

Liberia was founded by freed African slaves from the United States.